David Strettle believes Saracens have the class to end Ireland and France’s recent hegemony in the Heineken Cup and be the first English side to lift the trophy for six seasons.

The Londoners travel to Racing Metro for a potentially group deciding clash tomorrow and victory would put them in the driving seat in Pool One to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Capital rivals Wasps were the last English side to triumph in Europe’s premier tournament in 2007 and, since then, Leinster have won the Cup on three occasions, with Munster and Toulouse being the other winners.

But Strettle said: “We have to believe that we have the calibre to win the tournament. We know we can beat the big teams and, when we do, it’s not just a one-off. We’ve beaten Racing Metro and we go there with the belief we can do it again.

“A couple of weeks ago, our coaches sat us down and showed us where we were: second in the league, top of our LV Cup pool and top of our Heineken Cup pool. It’s looking good, confidence is high but it just takes a bad week and your season can easily be undone.”

The winger’s confidence is high after being recalled to the England squad for the Six Nations, one of six Sarries players in Stuart Lancaster’s 33-man line-up. Although he insisted that nod would have little bearing on how the side fare tomorrow.

“We’ve got two very intense European games coming up so I don’t think about the England situation as I don’t believe we can be more lifted for the games than we already are,” he added, before admitting that it was nice to be back for England.

Strettle says he had hoped for the call from Lancaster. Following an assessment with his club’s coaching hierarchy, he had been told he was in the England running before receiving confirmation from Andy Farrell on Tuesday telling him he’d got the nod.

“In the past, you’d just hear about it when it came out in the press so I like that, it’s a nice touch,” added Strettle.

“You’re never sure about selection as I felt during my last two years at Harlequins I played some of the best rugby of my career and didn’t get selected.”

His Saracens team-mate Chris Ashton looks a guaranteed starter for the Six Nations, with Strettle battling it out with Mike Brown and Ben Foden for the remaining wing berth.

“We’re all good mates and they’re both great players,” said Strettle. “Ben played well against South Africa on the wing while Browny played really well the last couple of games. It should be some fun competition.”

Strettle boasts just 12 international caps following a series of unfortunately-timed injuries. As a result, he has been hit with the tag of being an injury-prone player, one the 29-year-old insists is unfair.

“I had a hernia operation last year but the injury tag has only stuck because of what happened with England as a lot of people just follow rugby by watching the internationals so that’s all they see,” he said.

“I know I should have played more games for England. I would have gone to the 2007 World Cup and started on the wing but I broke my foot two days before. And then I returned in the Six Nations and broke my foot five minutes into my first game back.

“But you can’t dwell on these injuries as there are a lot of good players that haven’t got a single England cap so I feel very lucky with what I’ve done for both club and country.”

Big numbers for the big clash

34 times that Racing have opted to kick the ball in open play, more often than any other side in the Heineken Cup this season, according to the Amlin Opta Index.

25 line-outs won by Steve Borthwick in this campaign, including two steals, more than any other player in the competition.

50 per cent success rate for Saracens against French opponents in the Heineken Cup, winning eight and losing eight.

86 per cent line-out throw success rate this season for Racing Metro hooker Dimitri Szarzewski, according to the Index. The France international has also made 25 tackles and embarked upon 19 carries.

35 points kicked by Charlie Hodgson in his three appearances in the competition this season. He has also scored one try and provided three assists.

Brought to you by Amlin, proud sponsor of European rugby, in its fourth season as Title Partner of the Amlin Challenge Cup and Premium Partner of the Heineken Cup.